First place finish at World Dairy Expo for UMN Dairy Cattle Judging Team

Members of the Gopher Dairy Club found great success on the colored shavings at this years World Dairy Expo intercollegiate dairy judging contest. The team placed first overall and first in oral reasons. Full results below:

University of Minnesota team awards:
1st Team Overall (by a 53 pt margin, believed to be the 3rd largest margin historically)
1st Team Oral Reasons
1st team Ayrshire
1st team Brown Swiss
1st team Milking Shorthorn
1st team Red & White
3rd team Jersey
4th team Guernsey
4th team Holstein

Individual awards:
Ben Styer (Menomonie, WI) -- 1st overall (by an 11 pt margin), 1st oral reasons, 1st Red & White, 2nd Holstein, 3rd Brown Swiss, 3rd Milking Shorthorn, 8th Jersey, 9th Guernsey
Isaac Rott (Elgin, MN) -- 3rd overall, 4th oral reasons, 1st Brown Swiss, 1st Milking Shorthorn, 6th Red & White, 10th Jersey
Kelsey Biel (Harmony, MN) -- 17th overall, 11th oral reasons, 2nd Brown Swiss, 8th Red & White
Haley Beukema (New Richmond, WI) -- 4th Holstein

This year's coaches are Les Hansen and alumni Eric & Gabriella Houdek.

Additionally, longtime advisor of the club and coach of the dairy judging team Les Hansen received the Guest of Honor award at the National Dairy Shrine Banquet on October 2. This award is highest level of recognition awarded by the Dairy Shrine and recognizes exemplary dairy leaders for their accomplishments and contributions to the industry.

The Gopher Dairy Club is the largest student-run organization on the University of Minnesota Twin-Cities campus.